Support Groups and Resources for Couples Dealing with Infertility

Infertility Counseling Overview: Infertility is inherently stressful and affects the health of nearly every patient diagnosed or treated. 1 Counseling can be very helpful for people who are trying to deal with how infertility affects themselves, their partners, their marriages, and their lives. 

It is normal for couples and individuals to need psychological support after an infertility diagnosis, and professional counseling is often the best way to obtain it.

We will introduce you to a professional infertility counselor. Because they have the training, skills, and experience to deal with mental health issues in the most effective way. 

Infertility Stress: 

Receiving an infertility diagnosis can be emotionally devastating. Many people feel lost and helpless when they discover that their path to parenthood is not what they expected. Dealing with infertility treatments can also cause additional stress as couples vacillate between hope and despair. 

Add to this the volatile effects of hormone therapy, and the emotional whirlpool can be debilitating. If you don’t succeed right away, you’ll be stressed out. Her second year of treatment is often even more difficult for both couples and individuals than when infertility was first diagnosed. 

Anger, depression, anxiety, fear, sadness, and other emotions are natural byproducts of infertility and its treatment. If one partner is found to be at fault, one partner may feel shame and the other may feel resentment. It is better if the cause of infertility is not found. 

Treatment decisions can cause friction and psychological problems. One partner may want to proceed slowly with in vitro fertilization (IVF), while the other partner may want to proceed full speed ahead. 

Due to all these factors, infertility patients should receive the necessary psychological support whenever possible. Just like family and friends, partners need to support each other. Online and local support groups are great resources. 

Solution: 

The National Infertility Association lists free infertility support groups by state and region on its website. 

How to tell if you need counseling: 

Professional counseling is needed when individuals or couples cannot overcome emotional distress through their own efforts or support system alone. In fact, it is often wise to seek such support before psychological problems get out of control. Counseling can not only prevent these problems from occurring in the first place, but also address specific pain points. For example, right before starting IVF, many couples are depressed and need help. 

Depression is a very common effect of infertility and its treatment, especially for women. When depression reaches a deeper level, you may not even be able to recognize the problem. For this reason, partners need to be completely attuned to their spouse and take steps quickly. But that may not be entirely intended.

The following cases indicate the need for professional counseling: 

Dysfunction in daily life or work 

Extreme strain in relationships with spouse or others 

Persistent sadness, pessimism, or guilt 

Plummeting self-esteem 

Isolation from others 

Loss of interest in society Loss of favorite activities 

Difficulty making decisions or keeping commitments 

Increased feelings of anger or anxiety 

Thoughts of suicide 

Frequent crying about infertility 

Changes in weight, appetite, or sleep

Any of the above symptoms Individuals or couples who are suffering from this problem should seek professional counseling if that does not help. The same goes if you notice such signs in your partner. Patients should always bring such concerns to the attention of their fertility specialist, staff, or nurse.

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